GATE Exam Timings 2026: Shift Timings, Reporting Time & Exam Duration

GATE Exam Timings 2026: Shift Timings, Reporting Time & Exam Duration

RanjeetaUpdated on 14 Feb 2026, 11:43 AM IST

GATE Exam Timings 2026: IIT Guwahati is conducting the GATE 2026 exam on February 7, 8, 14 and 15, 2026. Hence, candidates attempting the exam must be aware of the GATE 2026 exam timings. The GATE 2026 exam timings indicate when the exam starts and ends. The GATE exam time duration is three hours (180 minutes) for 65 questions and a total of 100 marks. Candidates are advised to reach the GATE exam centre 1.5 hours before the exam commences for verification and frisking. Candidates must take their seats 40 minutes before the scheduled start of the GATE 2026 exam. They will be permitted to log in and read the instructions 20 min before the GATE starts. Read below for more details on the timing forthe GATE exam 2026.
Also check: GATE 2026 Exam Day Guidelines and Last-Minute Tips | GATE 2026 Feb 7 Question Paper

This Story also Contains

  1. GATE Exam Timing 2026
  2. GATE Exam Duration Time 2026
  3. Things to carry for the GATE exam 2026
  4. GATE 2026 Exam Date Branch Wise
  5. Pre-Exam Instructions for GATE 2026
GATE Exam Timings 2026: Shift Timings, Reporting Time & Exam Duration
GATE Exam Timings 2026: Shift-wise Schedule, Reporting Time & Duration

GATE Exam Timing 2026

Candidates can check the GATE exam timetable to be followed on the day of the exam so that they are not delayed for the exam. The timings for the GATE exam are as follows.

Contents

Morning Shift Timing

Afternoon Shift Timing

Reporting Time

8 AM

1 PM

Permit to take allotted seats

8:50 AM

1:50 PM

Permit to Login Time9:10 AM2:10 AM
Exam Starts9:30 AM2:30 PM

Exam Ends

12:30 PM

5:30 PM

GATE Exam Duration Time 2026

The time duration for the GATE exam is three hours that is 180 minutes. Candidates must make sure to report at least 90 mins (1.5 hours) before exam time, so that they can complete the mandatory security checks and biometric verification. Also, they must arrive early so that they can log in for instructions, read for 20 minutes before the 09:30 AM or 02:30 PM start times.
Related- GATE 2026 Dress Code

Things to carry for the GATE exam 2026

The GATE exam day instructions allows examinee to carry only a few items inside the exam centre. Check the list of things below.

  • GATE 2026 admit card

  • Original valid photo-identification proof (Passport, PAN Card, Voter ID, Aadhar Card etc).

  • Face Mask

  • Pen

  • Pencil

  • Transparent Water Bottle

  • Pocket-sized hand sanitiser

GATE 2026 Exam Date Branch Wise

Check the following table for the day-wise and the branch-wise GATE 2026 exam timing. The authority is holding 30 papers over 4 days in the month of February. The test is being held in two sessions per day.

Day/DateTime (IST)Test Papers

Saturday, February 07, 2026

9:30 am to 12:30 pm (Forenoon Session – FN)

AG, ES, GG, IN, MA, MN, TF, XE, XL

2:30 pm to 5:30 pm (Afternoon Session – AN)

AE, BT, CH, CY, GE, PH, XH

Sunday, February 08, 2026

9:30 am to 12:30 pm (Forenoon Session – FN)

CS-1, ST

2:30 pm to 5:30 pm (Afternoon Session – AN)

CS-2, EY, NM, PE

Saturday, February 14, 2026

9:30 am to 12:30 pm (Forenoon Session – FN)

CE-1, EE, PI

2:30 pm to 5:30 pm (Afternoon Session – AN)

BM, CE-2, ME, MT

Sunday, February 15, 2026

9:30 am to 12:30 pm (Forenoon Session – FN)

EC

2:30 pm to 5:30 pm (Afternoon Session – AN)

AR, DA

Pre-Exam Instructions for GATE 2026

Here are a few instructions that candidates must keep in mind before entering the GATE exam hall.

  • Candidates will be allowed to log in 20 minutes before the actual GATE exam 2026 starts, to read the necessary instructions.

  • They will only be allowed to start answering at the specified times, 9:30 AM and 2;30 PM.

  • Candidates will not be allowed to log in 30 minutes after the exam has started.

  • Further, they are not allowed to leave the examination hall until the end of the exam.

  • Candidates will be given Scribble pads for rough work at the exam centre.

  • On the scribble pad, candidates must write their name and registration number. GATE 2026 Feb 7 Question Paper

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the GATE exam timing?
A:

The GATE exam timing is 9:30 to 12:30 morning shift and 2;30 to 5:30 PM afternoon shift.

Q: What is the GATE exam duration?
A:

The GATE exam duration is three hours (180 minutes). 

Q: What is the GATE 2026 exam date?
A:

The GATE 2026 exam dates are February 7, 8, 14 and 15, 2026. 

Q: Is entry allowed after the GATE exam start time?
A:

No entry is allowed after the exam start time. 

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Questions related to GATE

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to GATE ?

The cutoff marks for OBC category students are different for different paper codes. You can check the article on Gate cutoff for all the detailed information. Hope it helps.

IIT Guwahati has released GATE exam ME answer key in online mode. Here we have provided direct link to download IIT Guwahati Mechanical Engineering answer key.- Download Here

The official GATE 2026 Shift 2 (Feb 8) answer key was released by IIT Guwahati on February 22, 2026, on the GOAPS portal.

Check out the GATE 2026 February 8 Question Paper with Solutions .

Hi Uma,

You can download GATE 2026 February 8 question paper with solutions by clicking on the link below: